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Original poster

Running a 10km in 2 weeks and feel I've stalled at 8.5

17 replies

wonderstuff123 · 21/06/2019 11:54

I'm doing the Race for Life 10km in two weeks,I did couch to 5km last year and this year have been training for the 10km. I've got to 8.5...and I've just lost my love for running and feeling really non plussed. I know I've only got a few more training sessions until I do it,then I can go back to running 7km x 3 a week,but can anyone give me any tips for how to mentally motivate myself to get to 10km in the next couple of weeks. I'm adding on 0.2km when I run on Mon,Weds and Thurs as that's the only way I'll get to 10km by the date I'm running it.

Any tips please?!

OP posts:
LaLoose · 21/06/2019 12:54

You'll do it no problem. You haven't stalled if you can run 8.5. You have a psychosomatic thing - you've convinced yourself you can't. You can. It takes probably about 9 minutes to run 1.5km at a very average pace - you can run an extra 10 minutes no problem, really you can. You need to do more mental work, not physical work.

Oh, and such small increments won't be helping this state of mind. You need to think more along the lines of: 5km -> 7.5km -> 10km.

Really, if you can run 8.5km you can run 10km. There isn't any real physical distinction.

Go on! You CAN!

CMOTDibbler · 21/06/2019 13:04

You can absolutely do it. The first 10km event I did (also race for life, and in fact the first time I had ever voluntarily run in an event) the very furthest I'd run was 8km.

Maybe run a shorter distance twice a week, and just do the longer one once - thats what most training plans do and its more manageable. But you would be able to run 10km tomorrow, you really would

AnnPerkins · 21/06/2019 13:05

Yes you can. LaLoose and CMOTDibbler are right, you've done all the work already. If you can run 8.5k you can run for another 10 minutes on the day.

I definitely wouldn't be running too far the Thursday before the race. You will do much better on rested legs. I would do the longest run on the Monday and a shorter one on the Wednesday or Thursday and then rest until race day.

You CAN do it Star

randomsabreuse · 21/06/2019 13:17

You will be fine. If you're doing 7k 3 times a week you will smash it!

I usually do 10ks off 2x5k and a longer run or (7k or 10k) or some speedwork but my first 10k post baby was a respectable 70 minutes off about 4 5ks in the last 3 weeks... (baby had been under the weather and DH's work had been manic) on a hilly course. 3 weeks later (and about 3 runs later) I was at 67 minutes...

Entered another 10k this weekend, done very little around kids and DH's work. Will plod round and enjoy the scenery!

Karigan195 · 21/06/2019 13:23

Relax the atmosphere and the big moment will get you through that last 1.5km. You’ll be fine

Freshprincess · 21/06/2019 13:26

The atmosphere on the day will carry you through to 10k so don't worry too much about that. You can definitely do it on the training you're doing now.

Are you running the same route every time? It might be that when you get to a certain point on the route your brain thinks 'oh I'm done' and it gets harder. For me sometimes it's a mental block.

My top tips would be to slow down to increase your distance. And plan a 10km out and back route (i.e. Run 5km in one direction and then come back). You've got no choice but to keep going.

megletthesecond · 21/06/2019 13:27

You'll be fine. 8.5k is a good distance to get under your belt.
I ran a 10k without the full training. I figured it was one parkrun to halfway and one back again. I just took it slowly.

Iggly · 21/06/2019 13:29

You can do it I promise. I didn’t run 10k before my last 10k and managed it fine.

I’ve had a break from running (a couple of years) and started again. By my second week I was running over 10k!!!!

CalmConfident · 21/06/2019 13:30

Plenty of training there for 10k...atmosphere will carry you on the day.is it your first one?

Ivegotthree · 21/06/2019 14:05

I count my running in miles. 6.23 miles is easy peasy compared to 10k!

Original poster
wonderstuff123 · 21/06/2019 17:29

Thank you all for the support. I did the 5km last year no probs and enjoyed the couch to 5km so much I wanted to push myself a bit further. I like the idea about counting miles instead of km and I think I'll step down and maybe do 2x short runs and 1x longer run for the next few weeks.

I do do the same route,its a cycle path behind my house and I've now run out of track on that - I'm getting to the end and having to run round a housing estate. Plus,there are a few hills to get to the end and I'm finding the last one a struggle so I tend to have to stop there and walk it. Maybe that's becoming my mental block.

I'm also finding myself extremely tired from these runs. Like going to bed,getting between 7.5-8 hrs sleep,and still waking up exhausted. I had to go to bed for a few hours this afternoon as I could barely keep my eyes open. I've got a lot on at the moment...a uni deadline,this training,it was myself and my sons birthday this week,so I'm hoping my tiredness is due to that. I'm trying to eat a decent amount of protein at every meal as well to counteract this (can be tough when you're a veggie) but if anyone else has any tips on batting away this exhaustion,please let me know!

OP posts:
AuntieStella · 21/06/2019 20:48

If you can run over 8km in training, you can do a 10k - the atmosphere of the event will carry you through.

Don't try to ramp up the mileage - a bit of gentle increase if you really want to until 10 days before, then cut it down

It doesn't matter in the slightest if you walk part of an event, btw - you'll see lots of other people doing it - all the way round (deliberate Jeffing) or just because something hurts or they've run out of steam but still want to finish.

If you want to try something a bit different to ring the changes from your usual run, how about a spot of local Parkrun tourism?

And never under-estimate the power of a new running playlist!

AuntieStella · 21/06/2019 20:51

Also, to combat fatigue, swop one run for a general fitness session - go to a class, go swimming, or try following a vid. Try the Kim Saha YouTube channel

CalmConfident · 22/06/2019 08:42

Hang on ...are every one of your runs 7k and you trying to up mileage on all?

CalmConfident · 22/06/2019 08:46

2 short runs and one longer run is a good approach and sell a bit of cross training for variety. Recommend making one of the short runs parkrun on Saturday which might help speed (I should be there now but got poorly DS) and excellent suggestion by @AuntieStella to try some tourism.

Enjoy the 10k you will be absolutely fine!

Daisydoesnt · 03/07/2019 20:04

OP how is the training going? I have only just spotted this thread and hope that things have improved for you. The only advice I can add (to all the good advice you have been given) is make sure you get to the start line feeling really fresh, it will do you more good than trying to squeeze in more training at this stage. If i was doing a 10k race this Sunday for instance, I might do my last run either today, or maybe tomorrow just do a very gentle 20 minute jog. You want to get to the start feeling like you can't wait to get going, not that your tired. Good luck!!

Original poster
wonderstuff123 · 04/07/2019 09:49

Hi all,thanks for all the lovely encouraging messages. I actually haven't been out running for about 10 days because of family birthdays and trips away. With the 10km looming on Sunday,I knew I had to get out and attempt 10km before it,otherwise I'd have been too nervous. And today,I managed it. 10km in 73 mins. My goal was 75min so I'm happy with that. Now going to rest until Sunday. Will let you know how I get on xx

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